Outside Xinzheng Gate, a vacant land not far from Qionglin Garden, Du Zhongxiao was wearing a public uniform and stood with Wang Kai in military uniform. Behind them were more than a hundred musketeers.

Early in the morning, an eunuch came to announce the order. This afternoon, they demonstrated guns and court officials came to watch. However, the person who came came did not explain clearly, and the two were a little confused. Fortunately, Han Jiang, the Kaifeng Prefecture Promoter, brought Xiangjun to help organize the venue and make various arrangements.

Seeing that the sun was above my head, the weather was getting hotter and the city gate was still quiet, Du Zhongxiao and Wang Kai couldn't help but feel a little anxious.

Han Jiang approached and said, "It was just now that morning court was gone, and it was still early. Let's go there to take a break and drink two cups of tea. I have arranged someone to wait until the emperor leaves the palace and will come to report us. The soldiers there are ready and take a break."

Du Zhongxiao was shocked: "What, can the emperor come today?"

Han Jiang said: "That's not accurate. The Privy Council promulgated the order, which was about the emperor's observation of the rituals, but it was not mentioned in the imperial edict, so just be prepared."

Du Zhongxiao and Wang Kai looked at each other, and didn't know why they suddenly came out like this. It was the right thing to show the guns and cannons to the ministers in the court, but that should be the descendant of the King. Now the order is completely chaotic, and I haven't entered the city, so I have to demonstrate the weapons first.

In the capital, Jia Changchao looked angry and said to Xia Shu: "All officials went out of the city to observe the troops. How could the Shufu not discuss with the Secretary of the Central Committee and submit their own memorials? Now that the imperial edict has been issued, the various yamen are in a mess, how can this be done!"

Xia Sheng lowered his eyes and said lightly: "Hedong Road Report, not long after, the Khitan will use troops to Dangxiang, Linfu Road and the Volcanic Army are the place where both sides use troops. Not to mention, Tanglong Town is on the north bank of the Yellow River, connecting with the Khitan southwest side of the Khitan. Wang Junma and Du Zhijun are going to rush back before the Khitan army sets off, and time cannot wait. The Secretariat has been dragging them to the palace and has to do something else first."

Jia Changchao was full of anger and could not do anything to Xia Shu. He was so angry that he walked around the capital.

Chen Zhizhong said: "The Privy Council invited the emperor to watch the ceremony. There is no news yet. I don't know if the emperor goes up or goes. When to leave depends on the movements in the palace. Whether it is early, we should make arrangements as soon as possible. Whoever leaves the city and who stays behind must make a decision early."

Jia Changchao said impatiently: "Mr. Chen and Ding went out of the city, and I and others guard the Secretariat. Other yamen, let them report it quickly!"

Chen Zhizhong said that he was discussing with several political parties how to allocate several important yamen.

Xia Xun said: "The Prince of the Privy Council and Deputy Envoy Gao stayed behind. I and Deputy Envoy Pang left the city and prepare early."

Jia Changchao and Xia Qiang were both tired of each other. Today, the two governments had just discussed things and went back to make arrangements. It was said that all officials left the city, but in fact, they were just representatives from each yamen, and there were still people in the yamen to stay and handle daily government affairs. Jia Changchao was disgusted with this matter, and there were not many officials sent out by the Secretariat system.

The emperor would not leave the palace easily, but he did not refuse clearly, so everyone could only wait. It was not until noon that Zhang Weiji, the master of the incoming house, sent someone to inform the two palaces, and he would take the place of the emperor to leave the city. After an hour, the matter was settled.

Outside Xinzheng Gate, Du Zhongxiao looked at the list of people who were sent to the city to watch the ceremony in a hurry, and felt his brain hurt. Among so many people, he only knew one Xia Shu. Other officials had heard of the name, but they didn't know what it looked like.

He handed the list to Wang Kai and Han Jiang, and Du Zhongxiao said: "Since I was admitted to the imperial examination, I have been working in the local area. I don't know the etiquette of the court. You will be the one who presided over today. I will go there to arrange the soldiers to perform. If there is anything, just tell me."

After hearing this, Han Jiang pulled Du Zhongxiao aside and whispered: "Today, many ministers in the court come, and it is rare to have such an opportunity to show their side in front of them, which will bring endless benefits in the future. Just be with me, and I will tell you if you have any questions."

Du Zhongxiao knew that Han Jiang was doing his best and nodded to thank him. Since the Jinshi rolled the name, it was the first time that he had seen such a scene. Du Zhongxiao was worried and a little frightened. When the Jinshi rolled the name, everyone was an ordinary person before, and they didn’t know what etiquette, everything was messy. According to people of this era, it was harder to make the new Jinshi rolled the name neatly and orderly than to let a group of camels come. Now he is a court official, and everything has rules in this kind of situation. If you are not careful, it will become a laughing stock in others’ mouths.

This is the difference between being an official in a local area and being an official in a capital city. I have never seen the world. Many officials who come today can determine Du Zhongxiao's promotion in just one sentence on weekdays, which is not ordinary.

While Du Zhongxiao and others were busy, more than a hundred riders of their armor came out of Xinzheng Gate and came to the place where they were watching the ceremony.

It turned out that the Privy Council was the commander of the Privy Council, and was sent by Zhang Weiji and Xia Shu to help arrange it. The warrior Ning Rendu had been responsible for the commander of the Privy Council for many years, was very familiar with the affairs of the Privy Council, and was mature and steady, and was deeply trusted.

After seeing it, the soldier Ning said: "Taiwei Xia attaches great importance to all officials watching the cannon this time, and should not be careless at all. Please take me to see the arrangement and audition round. If there is any inappropriateness, it will be changed immediately."

Du Zhongxiao and Wang Kai said that, and took the soldiers Ning around the field and went to the musketeers and said, "When watching the troops, the gunners there fired a round of guns first. They had to order. The guns here fired a round of guns. The guns were amazing, but they were not very accurate. Therefore, there were earth walls piled up there and the guns were hitting the earth wall. As for the musket, the projectiles were too small to hit the earth wall, so they had to open the air."

When the soldier Ning saw Wang Kai shut up, he stared and said, "First a round of cannons, one round of guns, that's all? Can't the muskets break the earth walls and still can't shoot into the wooden man? There are countless wooden man and grass man who practice arrows in the schoolyard of the city's military camp, so I borrow some of them."

Wang Kai and Du Zhongxiao looked at each other and said, "The gun wins in power. If you shoot one, you will be amazing. You will know it after taking a look."

The soldier Ning said earnestly: "Military horses, military and horses, the battles in the capital are different from fighting in battles, and they are lively! After a round, the military exercises will be completed in an instant. What do the ministers who come to watch the ceremony think? Needless to say, you can follow my arrangements."

After saying that, he ordered his followers to immediately go to the nearby military camp to borrow wooden men, and at least dozens of them were required. There were military camps everywhere in Kaifeng City, and there were tens of thousands of troops, so these things were not difficult to borrow. Seeing that the musketeers here were shabby, they asked them to borrow money.

After sending someone, the soldier Ning said to Wang Kai: "Military horses, all officials come to watch the ceremony before they are not yet ready. There is still some time for the soldiers to perform for a round of watching."

Wang Kai and Du Zhongxiao discussed it and said to Warrior Ning: "The guns and cannons are scary, so we should stay away from the order."

Warrior Ning laughed: "I am from a corps, so why are you afraid of being scary! Just let the soldiers act as soldiers, I will be scruples after watching it!"

Wang Kai agreed to let Warrior Ning restrain his subordinates and leave the range of musket shooting. Standing in front of the musket team, Wang Kai took a deep breath, drew out the knife, and shouted loudly: "Start the cannon!"

As soon as the sound fell, a muffled sound was heard, and the air was filled with the smell of gunpowder. The warrior Ning saw a few black shadows on the muzzle, shooting straight towards the earth wall in the distance. Turning over, he saw dust flying in the earth wall, and several large gaps had already appeared.

Wang Kai waved his knife again and shouted: "Shot the gun!"
Chapter completed!